A Streetcar Named DesireA Streetcar Named Desire

. . . introduction. . . introduction

A Streetcar Named Desire – A Streetcar Named Desire – the main charactersthe main characters

Blanche Dubois - Blanche Dubois - an aging Southern belle, who is descended an aging Southern belle, who is descended from an old French aristocratic family but whose beauty and from an old French aristocratic family but whose beauty and wealth have disappeared over time  wealth have disappeared over time 

Stanley KowalskiStanley Kowalski - the husband of Blanche’s sister, Stella, who - the husband of Blanche’s sister, Stella, who embodies masculinityembodies masculinity

Stella Dubois KowalskiStella Dubois Kowalski - Blanche’s sister and Stanley’s wife. - Blanche’s sister and Stanley’s wife. Raised in the same aristocratic setting that Blanche grew up in, Raised in the same aristocratic setting that Blanche grew up in, Stella was dominated by her attention-starved sister and often Stella was dominated by her attention-starved sister and often waited on  her when they had both been children. She had run waited on  her when they had both been children. She had run away from Belle Reve, the Dubois mansion, to marry Stanley away from Belle Reve, the Dubois mansion, to marry Stanley and had settled with him in New Orleans. and had settled with him in New Orleans.

Harold Mitchell (Mitch)Harold Mitchell (Mitch) - Blanche’s love interest and Stanley’s - Blanche’s love interest and Stanley’s war buddywar buddy

the paintingthe painting When the original production of When the original production of A A Streetcar Named DesireStreetcar Named Desire was in the was in the midst of success, Tennessee midst of success, Tennessee Williams wrote to Jessica Tandy Williams wrote to Jessica Tandy ("Blanche"), about a photo that was ("Blanche"), about a photo that was intended to be given as a Christmas intended to be given as a Christmas gift to the producer, Irene Selznick. gift to the producer, Irene Selznick. Williams was asked to see if Jessica Williams was asked to see if Jessica Tandy (who later appeared in Tandy (who later appeared in Driving Miss DaisyDriving Miss Daisy) would pose for ) would pose for a photographic replica of this a photographic replica of this Thomas Hart Benton painting. The Thomas Hart Benton painting. The painting depicts the poker scene painting depicts the poker scene from from A Streetcar Named DesireA Streetcar Named Desire with with Blanche in the foreground in a racy Blanche in the foreground in a racy blue dress. blue dress.

Through a series of letter Through a series of letter exchanges, Jessica Tandy reminds exchanges, Jessica Tandy reminds Tennessee Williams that his Tennessee Williams that his Blanche was not intended to appear Blanche was not intended to appear as a victim……as a victim……

Williams’ letterWilliams’ letter

Dear Jessica,Dear Jessica,

I have been appointed intermediator in the delicate matter of I have been appointed intermediator in the delicate matter of persuading you to pose for a photographic duplication of the persuading you to pose for a photographic duplication of the Thomas Hart Benton painting which our Lady Producer is to be Thomas Hart Benton painting which our Lady Producer is to be surprised with at Christmas. I have seen a picture of the surprised with at Christmas. I have seen a picture of the painting. I t looks marvellous and of course Benton is a very painting. I t looks marvellous and of course Benton is a very outstanding painter. I can see how Blanche’s dress, or lack of it, outstanding painter. I can see how Blanche’s dress, or lack of it, might offend you, but I am assured that you will not have to be so might offend you, but I am assured that you will not have to be so anatomical and I supposed the idea is an excellent piece of anatomical and I supposed the idea is an excellent piece of promotion. Myself, I don’t see it is vulgar, but I cannot swear that promotion. Myself, I don’t see it is vulgar, but I cannot swear that my sense of vulgarity is the most impeccable in the world.my sense of vulgarity is the most impeccable in the world.

Ever,Ever,TennesseeTennessee

P.S. I believe Blanche would - - after some initial protest.P.S. I believe Blanche would - - after some initial protest.

Tandy’s responseTandy’s response

Dear Tennessee,Dear Tennessee,

You have the wrong impression of my objection to posing for a You have the wrong impression of my objection to posing for a photographic duplicate of the Benton picture.photographic duplicate of the Benton picture.

Eight times a week, and to progressively less sensitive audiences, I Eight times a week, and to progressively less sensitive audiences, I have to make clear Blanche’s intricate and complex character …have to make clear Blanche’s intricate and complex character …her background…her pathetic elegance…her indomitable spirit…her background…her pathetic elegance…her indomitable spirit…her innate tenderness and honesty…her untruthfulness or her innate tenderness and honesty…her untruthfulness or manipulation of the truth…her inevitable tragedy.manipulation of the truth…her inevitable tragedy.

My protagonist, Stanley…my executioner, as you put it, is My protagonist, Stanley…my executioner, as you put it, is comparatively simple and easy for an audience to understand.comparatively simple and easy for an audience to understand.

The setting is a wonder mixture of the qualities of both these The setting is a wonder mixture of the qualities of both these characters…decayed elegance and sheer unadulterated guts.characters…decayed elegance and sheer unadulterated guts.

I share your admiration for Benton as a painter, but in the painting, I share your admiration for Benton as a painter, but in the painting, he has chosen to paint, it seems to me, the Stanley side of the he has chosen to paint, it seems to me, the Stanley side of the picture. Even in the set, you are more conscious of telegraph picture. Even in the set, you are more conscious of telegraph poles than scrolled ironwork.poles than scrolled ironwork.

Tandy’s response - continuedTandy’s response - continued

There has always been a part of the audience who obviously expects a There has always been a part of the audience who obviously expects a sexy, salacious play. I don’t want to do anything which will lead future sexy, salacious play. I don’t want to do anything which will lead future audiences to think that they are going to see sex in the raw, as it audiences to think that they are going to see sex in the raw, as it were.were.

I respect Mr. Benton’s right to paint any facet of the play that he sees I respect Mr. Benton’s right to paint any facet of the play that he sees and to exaggerate it in order to make clear his impressions.and to exaggerate it in order to make clear his impressions.

Please believe me when I say that Blanche’s lack of dress has nothing at Please believe me when I say that Blanche’s lack of dress has nothing at all to do with my objection.all to do with my objection.

I suppose the idea of printing the two photographs is an excellent piece I suppose the idea of printing the two photographs is an excellent piece of promotion. It is bound to bring a lot of people into the theatre, but of promotion. It is bound to bring a lot of people into the theatre, but we have no empty seats…we have no empty seats…

Print the Benton picture…but no duplicate photograph. If Print the Benton picture…but no duplicate photograph. If LookLook’s interest ’s interest is really in Mr. Benton’s painting, they should be content.is really in Mr. Benton’s painting, they should be content.

There, Mr. Intermediater, is my initial protest. What do you say to that!There, Mr. Intermediater, is my initial protest. What do you say to that!

Truly, affectionately,Truly, affectionately,JessicaJessica

Williams’ replyWilliams’ reply

Dear Jessica,Dear Jessica,

Many, many thanks for your letter on the Benton picture. You are Many, many thanks for your letter on the Benton picture. You are so right that it really makes me ashamed of having lent my so right that it really makes me ashamed of having lent my casual support to the idea. What you say about Blanche casual support to the idea. What you say about Blanche suddenly recalls to me all of my original conception of the suddenly recalls to me all of my original conception of the character and what it was to me, from which you, in your character and what it was to me, from which you, in your delineation, have never once drifted away…Yes, the painting is delineation, have never once drifted away…Yes, the painting is only one side of the play, and the Stanley side of it. Perhaps only one side of the play, and the Stanley side of it. Perhaps from the painter’s point of view that was inevitable. A canvas from the painter’s point of view that was inevitable. A canvas cannot depict two worlds very easily: or the tragic division of the cannot depict two worlds very easily: or the tragic division of the human spirit: at least not a painter of Benton’s realistic type. human spirit: at least not a painter of Benton’s realistic type. Well, I am still an admirer of the painting, but, believe me, still Well, I am still an admirer of the painting, but, believe me, still more an admirer of yours for seeing and feeling about it more more an admirer of yours for seeing and feeling about it more clearly than I did at first, and I should have felt the same way.clearly than I did at first, and I should have felt the same way.

With love,With love,TennesseeTennessee

the moviethe movie 19511951CAST: CAST: Vivien Leigh (Blanche DuBois) Vivien Leigh (Blanche DuBois) Marlon Brando (Stanley Kowalski) Marlon Brando (Stanley Kowalski) Kim Hunter (Stella Kowalski) Kim Hunter (Stella Kowalski) Karl Malden (Mitch) Karl Malden (Mitch)

OSCARSOSCARS Best Actress (Leigh)Best Actress (Leigh)Best Supporting Actor (Malden)Best Supporting Actor (Malden)Best Supporting Actress (Hunter) Best Supporting Actress (Hunter) Best Art Direction/Set DecorationBest Art Direction/Set Decoration

Also nominated for Best Picture, Also nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (Brando), Best Director, Best Actor (Brando), Best Screenplay, BestBest Screenplay, Best

Cinematography, Best Musical Cinematography, Best Musical Score, Best Costume Design, Best Score, Best Costume Design, Best Sound Recording and Best Film Sound Recording and Best Film Editing. Editing.

triviatrivia

The role of Stanley Kowalski was first offered to John Garfield who turned it The role of Stanley Kowalski was first offered to John Garfield who turned it down because the female lead got top billing. down because the female lead got top billing.

Vivien Leigh took the part of Blanche after it had been offered to Jessica Vivien Leigh took the part of Blanche after it had been offered to Jessica Tandy, who played the part in the Broadway play, and Olivia De Havilland. Tandy, who played the part in the Broadway play, and Olivia De Havilland.

Leigh, who suffered from bipolar disease later in life, had difficulty Leigh, who suffered from bipolar disease later in life, had difficulty distinguishing between her real life and that of Blanche DuBois. distinguishing between her real life and that of Blanche DuBois.

The character of Stanley Kowalski is not completely fictional – after Williams The character of Stanley Kowalski is not completely fictional – after Williams dropped out of the University of Missouri, he went to work in a shoe dropped out of the University of Missouri, he went to work in a shoe factory, and one of his co-workers and friends was named Stanley factory, and one of his co-workers and friends was named Stanley Kowalski.Kowalski.

The issue of mental instability was not completely unfamiliar to Williams, The issue of mental instability was not completely unfamiliar to Williams, either. His sister, Rose, had a history of mental problems, beginning with a either. His sister, Rose, had a history of mental problems, beginning with a frontal lobotomy that she had undergone at the age of 16.frontal lobotomy that she had undergone at the age of 16.

To complete a life that was filled with confusion, isolation, and depression, To complete a life that was filled with confusion, isolation, and depression, Williams died in 1983 when he mistook the cap of a pill bottle for a pill and Williams died in 1983 when he mistook the cap of a pill bottle for a pill and ended up choking on the bottle top.ended up choking on the bottle top.

Interesting facts about the playInteresting facts about the play

Tennessee Williams lived in New Orleans near the trolley line where the Tennessee Williams lived in New Orleans near the trolley line where the two streetcars, Desire and Cemetery ran on the same track. Tennessee two streetcars, Desire and Cemetery ran on the same track. Tennessee says this “struck me as having some symbolic bearing of a broad nature says this “struck me as having some symbolic bearing of a broad nature on life … and that’s how I got the title”. Incidentally, this streetcar line on life … and that’s how I got the title”. Incidentally, this streetcar line was discontinued shortly after the play opened.was discontinued shortly after the play opened.

The entire first year of its run, The entire first year of its run, A Streetcar Named DesireA Streetcar Named Desire never played to never played to an empty seat. In fact, it was standing room only and it is the only drama an empty seat. In fact, it was standing room only and it is the only drama on record to ever play to absolute capacity for its entire first year.on record to ever play to absolute capacity for its entire first year.

Some critics and actors have claimed that the character of Blanche Some critics and actors have claimed that the character of Blanche DuBois is an actual representation of Tennessee Williams himself.DuBois is an actual representation of Tennessee Williams himself.

Marlon Brando became a success from his stage and film portrayal of Marlon Brando became a success from his stage and film portrayal of Stanley Kowalski.Stanley Kowalski.

““A Streetcar Named DesireA Streetcar Named Desire and its actors were so renowned that some and its actors were so renowned that some theatre companies wouldn’t mount it fearing unflattering comparisons.” -theatre companies wouldn’t mount it fearing unflattering comparisons.” -Spencer Michaels, director and a T. Williams biographerSpencer Michaels, director and a T. Williams biographer

Tennessee Williams had such a strong audience following that there was Tennessee Williams had such a strong audience following that there was a $300,000 advance sale of tickets for a $300,000 advance sale of tickets for A Streetcar Named DesireA Streetcar Named Desire when it when it opened in 1947. This was unprecedented for a non-musical attraction.opened in 1947. This was unprecedented for a non-musical attraction.

What aspect of the play is depicted by each of the illustrations?What aspect of the play is depicted by each of the illustrations?

What aspect of the play is depicted by each of the illustrations?What aspect of the play is depicted by each of the illustrations?